Interconvertible dining table and shelf cupboard



06. 6, 1932. M. M ARD 1,889,901

INTERCONVERTIBLE DINING TABLE AND SHELF CUPBOARD Filed Nov 6, 1931Patented Dec. 6, 1932 STATE .IATENT- oF-Fica ,ivrnnnnrirnnann; or OAKPARK, ILLINOIS INTEBCONVERTIBLE DINING TABLE AND snntr CUPBOARDApplication filed November 6, 1931. Serial 1%. 573,394. r

' The purpose of this invention is to provide a construction of thefamiliar type of dining room furniture consisting of interconvertiblediningtable and china closet. or shelf 5 cupboard which when convertedinto the shelf cupboard form shall present the appearance of acompletely enclosed cupboard instead of having the open end appearancewhich characterizes the present familiar type of convertible dining roomfurniture. It consists in the elements and features of constructionshown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawing:

15 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a common type of convertibledinette withthe parts eX- tended in table form, and with an addedfeature constltuting the present lnventlon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of tne same plane indicated by the line55 on Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view show ing means for securing incupboard-closing M posltlon the member wh1ch closesthe end or 3' thecupboard space when the device is converted into cupboard form.

Referring to the drawing indetail:

The standard of the table form comprises end standards, 20, 20, ofnormal table height A, .7 suitably tied and braced for rigidity as maybe understood to be indicated by the lower tie bar, 21, the standards,20, 20, being connected at their upper end by the table topand shelfmember, 22, the manner and means T of securement requiring nodescription for the purpose ofthis invention more than to mentlon thatthe S6C'LlI1I1g.D1:3IlS seen at 23, 23, serve. to space the ends of themember, 22, inwardly from the standards, 20,-20,1 i I I to accommodatein the intervals the parallel 24,11as each of the shelf members hingedto it pending application Serial No. 567 ,780 filed back membercooperates with the specific Figure 5 is a detail vertical section atthe 'ment'with the standards, 20, as seen in Figure bar members, 24:,24, which are pivotally connected to the shelf members cooperating withthe backboard, 25, which constitutes in ef ,fect the cooperatingparallel bar for maintaining the shelves parallel throughout theshift'from table form to shelf form.

The backboard member, '25, affords pivotal connections to the shelfmembers corresponding to the endpivotal connection of the bars, 0

at its forward side,referring to the shelf cupboard" form, beingtheupper side inthe table form: The construction as thus far described isfully shown and claimed in my 00- October 9, 1931', inwhich the backmember substituted for the single narrow bar commonly previouslyemployed'for paralleling 5 i the bars, 24,24, is thus substituted forthe purpose of adding to the parallel bar func- 7 tion, the function ofclosing the cupboard at the rear when the device is converted into shelfform.. 1

And in respect, to this closing function the features which aredistinctive of the present invention which thus cooperating, providecomplete closure of the cupboard space.

For completing thefclosure of the cupboa1dspace,"which obtains noclosure at the ends above the height-of the standards, 20, 120, by theoperation'of converting from'table 'to shelf form, there isprovided ateachend a member, 30., which as to form and dimensions 7 is asubstantial duplicate of theendstandard, 85

. 20, the slight variation from the latter consisting in omitting thetoe projection at the rear edge. These members,'30, 30, are hinged" attheir upper ends to the upper ends of the 9 standards, 20, 20, as seenat 31, 31,.the hinges 9 being desirably set into the ends of bothmembers, as seen in Figure 1, softhat when the members, 30, 30, areswung out into alig n 2, thehinged-together ends of the two parts,

20. andogo abut yf poneach'other and Operate P the m r 30;"at said l dposition. i

.For securing the member,f30, at this'up wardly extending aligned;position, there is manually forced into engagement.

Preferably this latch, While fairly heavy, is sufficiently resilientto-be sprung slightly away from the surface of the member, 30, at thehooked end by the slight wedging action which occurs in forcing the hookend into engagement with the bar, 24, by reason of the slight bevel seenat 33, at the inner edge of the hook nose.

. For completing the closure of the cupboard space, supplementing theback, 35, and the end members, 30, 3Q, a spring roll curtain of familiarconstruction seen at is orovided with usual bearings for its oppositeends, the fittings 41 comprising such bearlngs being mounted in,projections, 36', 36,.of themembers, 30, 30, corresponding to, the fronttoes of the standards, 20, 20, as may be understood ed in said bearingswhen the duplicates are at said upwardly swung position, the curtainbeing dimensioned for substantially closing the shelf space whenwithdrawn from the roll.

4. In combination with an interconvertible table and shelf structure ofthe type having a shelf system connected by means of the nature ofparallel bars for maintaining the shelf members parallel, and a supporthaving end standards of normal table height between which theshelfsystem is mounted for swinging from table position to shelfposition, the

' parallel bar means for connecting the shelves to maintain themparallel with each other throughout the conversion from table to shelfform comprising a back member dimensioned for closing the shelf spaceat, the back side,

the shelves being all hinged to said back member at then rearedges. V Intestimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 4th day of November, 1931. v

V MABEL MILLARD.

from Figures '2, 3 andewithout further description. g t l Iclaim: 1. Incombination with an interconvertflole table and shelf structure of thetype having a shelf system connected by means of the nature ofparallel'bars for maintainng the shelf members parallel, and a supporthaving end standards of normal table height between which the shelfsystem is mounted for swinging from table position to shelf position,means for closing the shelf space at shelf position above the height of.the end standards, consisting of substantial duplicates of the endstandards hinged at their upper ends to the corresponding ends of saidstandards respectively at the outer sides'of the latter and adapted tobeswung upwardly into alignment with the standards respectively, and"means for releasably locking them at such u'pwardly aligned position.

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, the releasable locking meansconsisting of a latch carried by each of the upwardly swung members atthe side which is inward at the upwardly aligned position located withinthe dimensions ofsaid member suitably for engagingthe adjacent parallelbar of the shelf system at such'upwardly aligned position.

3. The construction defined in claimel, the

endstandard duplieates having theforward edges cftheir free endsfurnished with .for-

r wia'rdly projecting lugs and meansitherein for 'o'urnallin a curtainroll said means bein b V 7 V positioned on the two duplicates inalignment at the upwardly swungposition of said dupli- V cates andacurtain rollarran ed to be mount- 1 V l o we. V

